BLC Weekly, October 9
Hello Bethlehem,
Saturday’s Women’s Event was a success, with over 60 attendees! There was Fair Trade shopping, Bible Journaling, Neuro Art and some amazing local non-profit vendors. We heard from speakers Marcie Flygare, neuroplasticity coach and trauma sensitive yoga instructor here in Mankato, and Deb Hadley, author of the Morning God Boost, Founder of the KT Humble Hearts Foundation, and the Bereavement Manager for Knute Nelson Hospice. If you missed the event, you can hear Deb Hadley speak at “Ready! Set! Resurface!” on November 11 in Parkers Prairie, and we hope to plan for another event here at Bethlehem next year!
This Week
Join us for supper, Wednesday at 5pm. This week we’re having sloppy joes with chips and Italian cold pasta. All are invited to attend worship at 6:15pm followed by education.
Note: there will be no Wednesday evening meal or worship next week for MEA Break.
This Month
The Young Adults group will meet on October 14th at Ben and Danielle Johnson’s house located at 604 Page Ave in North Mankato for a bonfire! Post high school young adults are invited to attend. Friends are welcome! Contact Pastor Jacie if you’d like more information.
Also on October 14, there will be a FLIGHT event at Pumpkin Junction from 1-3pm followed by snacks and games at the Phillips home from 3-5pm.
High school youth are invited to join us at Welsh Heritage Farms on October 15th and the Halloween Youth Lock-In for 5th-9th graders will be October 27th!
Trunk-or-Treat at Bethlehem is set for October 25th! Sign up here to donate candy or to be a trunk. Donated candy must be dropped off at the office by October 22. We are hoping to get even more trunks this year!
Welcome to our new members who joined us this Sunday for orientation! We’re glad you’re here!
Kristin Odland with Friendship Family asked if any church members would be interested in serving as a family to an international student. They have a number of students who do not have a family. If they are interested, they can contact Kristin at 507-389-1585.
We invite anyone interested to sign the name or bring a photo of loved ones who have passed on at the All Saints altar, now up in the narthex.
We’re making lefse on November 17th! Join us in the lower level at 9am. More volunteers mean more lefse! Contact Ginger Erlandson (507)380-5368 rerlandson2@gmail.com with any questions. Keep an eye on the announcements for pre-sale information. Lefse will be available for pickup on Sunday, November 19.
Home Care for Pr. Don: Bethlehem has been caring for and supporting Pastor Don and Bonnie Roberts since he was diagnosed with ALS in 1995, and now the Roberts need our help. Are you interested in helping with Pastor Don's home care? If you have experience as a caregiver, a good heart, and a willingness to learn, you are needed, as they are looking for more caregivers to round out their team. Let Pr. Don and Bonnie know if you can help! Connect with the Roberts by emailing dbroberts320@hotmail.com
It’s a Fiesta de la Familia and YOU are invited! This celebration will recognize the Ariac and Andrea Cruz family on Thursday, November 9th 6 PM to 8PM at Christ the King Church located at 222 Pfau Street in Mankato. The WELCOME Committee invites you to a Nicaraguan-style supper: scrambled eggs wrapped in warm tortillas, Huevos Duros Y Tomate (eggs cooked in a wild tomato sauce) Chorizo, a simple but flavorful sausage, black beans and fresh fruits including bananas, papayas, mangoes and avocados. A short program will introduce attendees to the many adventures and accomplishments of the family since their arrival last December. Reservations required and limited! Use this form to sign up. Free will offering is gratefully accepted.
The BLC Praise Band leading worship on Sunday, October 8
Adult Forum
Mental Health and Youth
Join us on Sunday, October 15 at 10:45 am in Grounds for Joy to learn about the mental health challenges affecting our youth and what is being done in our community to address them. Barb Kaus will share the ambitious initiatives of the Greater Mankato Area United Way. Beth Winterfeldt will present her efforts as a Youth Mental Health Navigator to connect youth and parents with essential mental health services. The forum will be filmed for later access on the Bethlehem website and social media. Read the following background articles about this important topic:
“Opioid settlement will fund mental health” by Jerome Wirtz
“Mankato area students struggle with mental health, reflecting statewide trend” by Holly Marie Moore
“United Way starts suicide prevention committee” by Tim Krohn
Monthly Mission
Our October Monthly Mission is Connections Ministry. Connections is a low-barrier emergency shelter as well as outreach services. The shelter is seasonal and will open on October 2nd. There are 40 beds for unhoused men, women and children, and last year Connections served 115 shelter guests as well as 700 individuals in their outreach office. We can serve Connections through both monetary support and volunteering. The Connections vision statement says it all: “Walking with individuals and families experiencing homelessness by extending a radical welcome that provides dignity, shelter and community.” Our goal is $3,000.
Bethlehem is scheduled to serve at Connections Shelter Tuesday 11/28- Sunday 12/3 and the weeks of 1/15 and 2/26.
THANK YOU
“Fall term at MSU-Mankato is in full swing! We are blessed to have Bethlehem Lutheran Church and your volunteers as partners in our ministry to feed hungry MSU students through our Lunch For-a-Buck program. We were pleased to welcome your Men's Group on Tuesday, October 3, when Pastor Jay, Frank Larson, Dennis Sandersfeld, Gordy Larson, Bob Ihrig, and Jason Bruns combined forces to serve a mouth-watering lunch of lasagna, meatless spaghetti, breadsticks, cookies and homemade bars to a post-pandemic record 70 hungry lunch-goers. They also collected $143.00 in donations that will be used to purchase the lettuce, fixings, beverages, paper plates, dinnerware, and other supplies for future lunches. God bless you for your generosity and for supporting the students and our ministry at Crossroads.”
-Crossroads Campus Ministry
Lectionary Readings
October 8 & 11, Matthew 21:33-46
October 15, Matthew 22:1-14
October 22 & 25, Matthew 22:15-22
This Week in our Prayers
Curt Halvorson Brenda Goetsch Marian Mallory
Pete Wachtel Carol Peterson Jim Norland
Sarah Nelson Nikolas Perez Shari Elbert Mark Larsen
Pastor Don Roberts, Bonnie, & his caregivers
The families & friends of Lynette Freyberg and Kevin Richmond
St. John Lutheran in Montgomery Vista Lutheran in New Richland
St. Paul’s Lutheran in Waseca Bethel Lutheran in Rochester
Ikhanoda Lutheran in Tanzania Mazoezi Singa Lutheran in Tanzania
Nguony Keel Lutheran Parish in South Sudan